Rooney is sadly typical

Ron’s Rant

England’s deterioration at international level was confirmed when FIFA’s player of the year shortlist of 23 was announced this week. Not one was an Englishman and that’s despite Wayne Rooney becoming the highest paid player in the world at $375,000 a week, England being the home of football since it created the official rules and league structures at the end of the 19th century and the Premiership is the richest, most entertaining league in the world.

England supporters must be even more dismayed by the fact that Fabio Capello, who ‘earns’ $9m annually – which is double what most of the other top coaches are paid – didn’t make the shortlist as coach of the year.

The English FA has always been badly run, made poor decisions and ignored the obvious. One that springs to mind was not giving Brian Clough the England manager’s job even though he patently deserved it. Another was keeping Sven Goran Eriksson on for too long, putting his excessive compensation package ahead of the need to get rid. Handing the reins to the inept Steve McClaren followed. Letting John Terry get away with all his indiscretions before the inevitable chop was another. Even now, the feeling is that Capello has lost the plot but it would be too expensive to sack him rather than let him muddle through for another two years and see out his contract. Seems like a really weird cost-cutting measure.

Rooney’s manipulation of his situation at Manchester United to land a king’s ransom set a dangerous precedence which will definitely be copied by other greedy, self-centred players in the future, orchestrated by similarly avaricious agents like Rooney’s Paul Stretford.

England’s 0-0 last dismal showing against Montenegro a couple of weeks ago was an indication of how far they’ve sunk. They were deservedly booed off the Wembley pitch. There is little prospect of improving in the future. Club commitments trump international success for many England players, agents and directors now and that culture is unlikely to change for awhile. Yes, England want to do well at international level but the desire is not matched with common sense tweaking.

Obvious changes would be to have fewer foreign players in the Premiership so that more Englishmen can play in the top tier – like world champs Spain ensure in their league. A greater emphasis on skill and tactical awareness at youth level and not just brawn and speed is another. Plus fewer club games so that international squads can work together for longer. Stamping out completely the drinking culture and endless yob behaviour which Rooney has exemplified repeatedly in recent times wouldn’t hurt either.